Dragon Pearl Junk
A classic wooden junk modelled on old Chinese sailing junks, run by Indochina Junk - the first company licensed to cruise Bai Tu Long Bay, the quieter bay just east of Halong. It's a mid-range boat with character rather than a big luxury liner: three decks, 10 cosy cabins, a teak dining room and a sundeck, carrying up to 20 guests. The route leans off-the-beaten-path, calling at caves, fishing villages and secluded beaches away from the main crowds.
Scored by our Halong cruise team, who spend their season on these waters. We rate each boat the way a returning guest would - cabins, dining, crew, itinerary and value - not the way a listing does.
The pull here is the water, not the boat - Bai Tu Long stays genuinely quiet while the main bay churns, and Indochina Junk knows these hidden corners better than anyone, so the itinerary through Thien Canh Son Cave, Hon Co and Vung Vieng village feels earned rather than staged. The cabins run compact at 11m2 with a single Deluxe class and rustic timber finish, so you trade space and modern amenities for authenticity and a small group capped at twenty. Book it for the calm and the character, not for a luxury it never pretends to offer.
Choose your suite
Deluxe Cabin
Prices are per cabin, all guests included in USD. Final price is confirmed on WhatsApp before any payment.
Cabin details - Cabins (10 cabins / 3 decks)
- Deluxe Cabin - 11m², en-suite with A/C + hot water, rustic timber finish. 4 Twin + 2 Double on deck 1, 4 Double on deck 2
Itinerary
Hanoi - Bai Tu Long - Thien Canh Son Cave - Hon Co Island
- Shuttle pickup in the Old Quarter ~08:00-08:30 (add-on), ~2.5h to Halong
- ~11:30 board at the Indochina Junk office, welcome drink + safety briefing, lunch as the junk sails into Bai Tu Long
- Afternoon: explore Thien Canh Son Cave (~30 min, clean stalactite formations), then Hon Co Island for kayaking, swimming or the white-sand beach
- Late afternoon: Vietnamese cooking class (fresh spring rolls)
- Evening: dinner as the junk anchors mid-bay, then board games or night squid fishing
Vung Vieng Village - back to Hanoi
- Breakfast on the bay, then a rowboat transfer to Vung Vieng, one of the bay's prettiest fishing villages - floating houses and local life
- ~09:45-10:00 check out, brunch as the junk heads to port
- Shuttle back to Hanoi ~16:00. If you booked the transfer, a stop at Yen Duc Village adds a water-puppet show
Meals
All meals onboard, European + Asian menu. 2 bottles of mineral water/day included; other drinks charged per bar menu (cocktails ~$7, wine ~$6.5-8, mocktails ~$4.5, soft drinks $1.5-3).
Activities
Kayaking (Hon Co / Cap La), Thien Canh Son Cave, Vung Vieng fishing village by bamboo boat, cooking class, night squid fishing, Cong Dam beach (3D2N), Yen Duc water puppets (transfer only).
What’s included
- Welcome drink on arrival
- En-suite A/C cabin with hot water
- All onboard meals (tea + coffee free at breakfast)
- English-speaking guide onboard
- Kayaking
- Pickup
- Hanoi Old Quarter (shuttle add-on) → Indochina Junk Halong Office
- Pickup window
- 08:00-08:30
- Drop-off
- ~16:00 Hanoi (last day; stops at Yen Duc if a transfer is booked)
- Children
- Under 4 stay free
- Ages 4-12
- 75% of adult fare
- Age 12+
- Full fare
- Note
- 1 child sharing a twin/double with 2 adults; <4 FOC; 4-12 sharing = 75%; a child in their own cabin = 75% + single surcharge; on a charter, 4+ is charged as an adult (final terms confirmed at booking)
- Weather
- Bai Tu Long weather is variable; kayak and cave activities are weather-dependent. Winter (Dec-Feb) is cool and misty.
We never take card payments on this site. Your booking is confirmed by a real person on WhatsApp, and the final price is agreed before you pay anything.
Ask us anything about this cruise
A real person replies within hours, 7am-10pm ICT - WhatsApp is fastest.
Bai Tu Long is the bay next to Halong - same limestone scenery but far fewer boats, so it feels calmer and more untouched. Indochina Junk was the first company licensed to sail there, so it's a natural fit if you want the quiet, off-the-crowd version
It's a classic-style wooden junk rather than a big modern boat - cabins are cosy (around 11m²) but en-suite with A/C and hot water. You trade some space for character and a smaller, quieter group of up to 20 guests
